Time switch



Sept.-8, 1942. F. E. CARLSON' ErAL TIME SWITCH Filed June 5, 1941 Patented Sept. 8, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,294,961 'rmsswrrcn Fritz E. Carlson and Johannes West, Chicago, lll.

Application June 5, 1941, Serial No. 396,702 (cl. zoo-ss) 3 Claims.

range of accurate pre-settings for various duties;

to provide such a device or attachment comprising means adapted for setting to flx or predetermine definite general time periods both of non-operation and of intermittent operation, the latter according to some variable condition, such as temperature, etc.; and to provide clockwork or the like combined with energy storing and release means or motor adapted to apply positive force 'with quick release of energy sufficient to assure prompt and positive action of the appropriate control means according to specic needs.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown by the accompanying drawing 'in which: Figure 1 is substantially a front elevation of the control apparatus and mounting from which the detachable front casing or cover, not here shown, has been removed.

Fig. 2 is mainly a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and shows the time index dial at the left, with a conventional circuit diaphragm connected below.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a somewhat angular section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, with the dial at the right.

Fig. 5 is a section taken at line 5-50n Fig. 4,

fand shows, in frontv elevation, the rearmost pair .of ratchet or star wheels with their respective actuating fingers and corresponding cams. (See upf per right corner in Figs. l, 2 and 3.)

More in detail, the rotary dial disc I pivoted on fixed shaft l is driven by a conventional clockwork mechanism, not shown, through a lateral shaft 2 and pinion 2 meshing with gear teeth I" on the periphery of said disc I. There are actually two switches S and S', front and rear, the latter comprising two spring arms 3 and 4, which `are secured to a block of insulation 5 and connected in part .by leads 6 and 1 to a source of current, for instance, battery B. The disposition of said arms 3 and 4 is controlled by a pair of ratchet or star wheels 8 and 9 respectively which are rigidly connected together as a unit by a hub h on a common pivot stud 65 set on a frame back plate 5, in .such manner that the points of the wheel 8 are staggered with respect to those of the companion wheel 9. 'I'he rear spring arm 3 has a lateral finger I0 which overlies and intermittently contacts the spring arm 4 or a similar iinger thereon in the manner shown in Fig. 2; and the arms 3 and 4 are alternately lifted by the passing points of the wheels 8 and 9 as these wheels arevrotated (by said clockwork) in the direction of the arrow Il in such manner lthat when the arm 3 is raised, relative to arm 4,

by a point of the wheel 8, the circuit will be broken; and when the arm 4 is raised by a point on the wheel 9 it will engage said iinger I0 and close the circuit.

A pair of independently adjustable single toothed cams I2 and I3 operate on the respective wheels 8 and 9 through pallet springs p and p'. These springs are so formed hookwise at their free tips t and t as to advance the wheel unit 8-9 about half a tooth space upon each rotation of each ofthe cams I2 and I3.

The cam I2 is carried by a shaft I4 which has an outer index arm I5 having an inwardly turned tip or points I8 that can be iitted into any one of the outer circular series of notches or holes I1 in the disc I. Similarly, the cam I3 is carried by a hollow shaft or quill I8 connected to an index arm I9 provided with an inwardly turned tip or point 20 that meshes with a second or inner series of notches or holes 2I on the face of said dial disc I. The holes Il and 2| on the dial I are arranged and spaced at any desirable intervals or parts of a twenty-four hour period, preferably one set of twelve for day and another such set in series therewith for night, so that the arm I5 may be set to close the switch at any selected time and the arm I9 may similarly be set to open the switch at a selected time.

Referring now to the other switch S next to said dial I and comprising a set of two contact springs 43 and 45 mounted at their lower ends on said block 5', it is to be noted that this switch is substantially similar to switch S; but is oper-` pointed tip to engage the arcuately arranged holes 31. Hence, this switch S in operation continues at regular intervals to close and open the circuit, as will be further described.

By way or further illustrating our invention and showing a particular use thereof, we refer to the relay circuit connections appearing in Fig. 2. Here the source of electric current, as for instance said battery B, has two wheel controlled switch circuits connected thereto, one controlled by wheels 30 and 3l and the other by wheels 8 and 9. The one oi these, through switch S, delivers current from the positive side or terminal 36 of said source through lead 4l to terminal 42 oi spring 43, thence by contact 44 to spring 45 and to terminal 46 of said spring 45 from which a conductor 41 extends to a contact 48 set in the block 5 under spring 4 where connection is made to spring 4 when that spring is released by its control wheel 9. Thence the circuit leads through spring 4 to its terminal 49 and thence through said conductor "l to the coil 5| of relay 52 and on 'nach by conductor 53 to the negative side 54 of said source B.

rEhe other of those said switch circuits, the one through switch S', delivers current from said terminal 35 through lead 5E, control element 5l (which may he a thermostat), lead 5 to terminal or" spring through contact lu to spring 4, thence through said spring 4, contact 49, wire l, relay coil and conductor 53, to said negative side -never said relay 52 is energized, as by curin coil iii, secondary circuit is closed leading from said source B through lead 55, motor ivi and rel spring 5S, and 'nach to B through terminal c Said motor may be used to serve any appropriate 4function desired as for instance, to controi the damper or a furnace, not shown, but as will be understood.

lt is to "se understood that some of the details set 'forth may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of our invention as ded hy the iollowing claims.

'vi/e claim:

An automatic control device comprising a ne, a pivotall'y mounted dial thereon, means rotate said. dial continuously at a constant speed, index arms pivotally mounted coa'xially with said dial and carried thereon each in adinstable rigid relation thereto, a plurality o! electric switching means mounted on said trame, ratchet and cam actuators also coaxial with said dial, and concentric shaft means connecting said arms and respective ratchet and cam means respectively.

2. In a switching device of the class described a mounting frame, a shaft secured rotatably thereon, time controlled means to drive said shaft at a substantially uniform rate, a pair of relatively adjustable single hump cams mounted adjacently on said shaft, a pair o! mediaily bent spring pawls each mounted flxedly at one end on said frame in operating alignment with its corresponding cam for medial contact therewith, where the pawls are angular-ly bent, a compound wheel having corresponding ratchet elements disposed side by side in mutually oiIset ratchetpoint relation in operative alignment with said pawls respectively for advancement oi' said wheel thereby, and a pair oi mutually interfering switch springs resting at times on the corresponding ratchet points whereby the switch is alternately closed and opened according to the relative setting of said cams.

3. In a switching device of the class described a mounting frame, a shaft secured rotatably thereon, time controlled means to drive said shaft at a substantially uniform rate, a pair of rela tively adjustable cams mounted adjacently on said shaft, a pair of spring pawls each mounted nxedly at one end to said frame in operating alignment with its corresponding one of cams for medial contact therewith, where the pawls are angularly bent, a compound wheel having many corresponding ratchet elements or humps disposed side by side in mutually oilset ratchetpoint relation in operative alignment with said pawls respectively for advancement thereby, and a pair ci somewhat overlapping switch springs disposed side by side and resting at times on the corresponding ratchet points of said wheel whereby the switch is alternately closed and Opened according to the relative setting oi the two said cams.

FRITZ E. CARLSON. JOHANNES WEST. 

